Nathan brought out a rack of freshly washed glasses to the front of the diner. He sat them down and began placing them neatly above the bar.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

Nathan looked up to see Haley standing before him.

"Hey", he said. "Yeah, it's cool. Let me just do something with these…"

"It's okay", she starting putting them up. "I'll help you."

"Thanks. So, what's on your mind?"

Haley took a deep breath.

"Look, I know you're dealing with a lot and I also see that you're the best job possible running this place…"

"Sounds like there is a 'but' coming", Nathan smiled.

Haley uneasily returned his smile.

"Yeah. Um, I, God, Nate, I hate to be a bother and make stuff for you any harder than it has to be but I need to talk to you about scheduling."

Nathan sighed.

"I know what this is about, Hales."

"You do?" she asked, puzzled.

"Yeah. Look, I know the extra shifts and the craziness of working all kinds of hours is getting to you. I know it sucks but I'm doing the best I can. You're one of the best people I've got here. You've been helping out here forever, you know everything there is to know about this place and Mom trusts you. I definitely don't want to lose you but if you could just bear with me for a little while longer until I get stuff figured out…"

"No, no. Nathan, it's not that. I can deal with all that just fine. What I can't deal with right now is your brother."

"Lucas? What did he do now?"

Haley took a deep breath.

"I take it you don't know the latest?"

"No."

"Remember the other morning at Starbucks how he was just sitting watching us?"

"Yeah."

"Well, he had been doing that a lot…following me, I mean."

Nathan frowned.

"You mean like stalking?"

"Well, yeah. I guess. It was really creepy."

"I don't get it. I know the guy is a little rough around the edges but this sounds crazy…even for Luke. I mean, why would he do something like that?"

"He thought I was seeing someone else. It, um, all came to an ugly head the other night during that big storm. He showed up at the apartment ranting and raving. It was really scary, Nathan. I mean, I had never seen him that riled up before. Anyway, he went off yelling at me, getting in my face…"

"Wait. What do you mean, getting in your face? Lucas didn't hit you, did he?"

"No. He just um, took a wild swing at some of my knick knacks."

Nathan's face tightened.

"I'm gonna kill him…"

"Wait. Nathan, please. It's okay."

"No, it's not okay."

"Just don't go doing anything rash. Calm down."

"How do you expect me to stay calm when you tell me something like this? You're at home all alone and he decides to come over and flip on you and get physical? Hales, that's not right. I know I always say that I don't want to get involved but Lucas can't get away with this."

"I…I wasn't alone."

Nathan stopped. He hadn't expected Haley to confirm there indeed had been another man involved. Not that that gave Lucas permission to do what he did. Regardless his brother was wrong. But the thought of Haley with Luke or any man, always felt like a punch right in the gut.

"Oh. Oh, um…" he stammered.

"Oh no. No, it wasn't like that. It was Adam."

"Your brother?"

"Yeah. He's been having a hard time lately and I had been helping out. He was staying with me."

"Oh", he said, secretly feeling relieved that the mystery male in question was a blood relative.

"Adam was there and he made sure Lucas left. And by the time Lucas saw who it was, he had started to calm down anyway. I'm okay but that's beside the point. What I wanted to talk to you about is the scheduling. I know your hands are basically tied but it is really awkward and tense and uncomfortable and hell, all around horrible working with him. So if you could…"

"Uh, yeah. No problem. I'll take care of it."

She smiled warmly at him.

"Thanks. I mean that. And I'm sorry about having to run out on you the other morning. I just never got to tell you how good it is that you're back and…"

Her monologue was interrupted by the distinct ringing of his cellular phone.

"Sorry", Nathan apologized, checking the caller ID and realizing that it was Daytona. "Haley, excuse me for a minute. I need to take this."

"Okay", she nodded with a smile as she continued with the glasses.

"Hey", Nathan smiled.

"Hey", Daytona said from the other end of the line. "I was just calling to see how you're doing."

"Good. Um, good. Everything is fine."

"That's good. Did your mom get my package?"

Nathan grinned.

"Yeah. She did and she loved it. She's going to call you soon."

"I'm glad she liked it."

He smiled as he remembered the look on his mother's face as she opened up the box. The contents were simple…magazines, cookies, a "get well" card and a stuffed animal but that's what made it so special.

"You know, that was really cool of you. You didn't have to do that."

"I know but I wanted to."

"I know. And we appreciate it. So…how is Coop?"

Daytona laughed.

"Cooper is Cooper, you know that. But he's good. Business is good and I think he's going up to Nashville for a race next month."

"You going with him?"

"Maybe. I'll go if you go", she teased.

"I'll think about it", he said seriously.

"Really?"

"Really. I mean, why not? It's too early to make promises now but if Mom is still doing okay and I have everything under control here, then yeah. It'd be fun."

"It would be", she agreed. "I, I miss you, Nathan. I don't want to get all weird or sappy and I know we're taking this dating thing really slow but…"

"I miss you, too", he blurted out.

The admission made her feel a warm and good feeling she had never quite experienced before.

"Um, wow. I…I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. I'm just glad you're here and that you called. And um, I don't know if you can, but maybe you can visit again soon. You could come up and we could hang out."

"Okay. It sounds fun. Um, I'm sure I could definitely work that out with scheduling and everything", she said excited.

"Good. I, um, I can't wait to see you."

Daytona's dreamy mood was abruptly ended as she heard the beeping on her end of the line.

"Sorry", she groaned. "I have another call and it could be important. And I don't want Cooper to kill me…"

"It's cool. Um, I'll give you a call later when we're both off work and we have more time to talk."

"Sounds good. I'll talk to you soon."

"Later", he smiled, hanging up.

Haley, eavesdropping, had all but stopped working as she struggled to hear every word of Nathan's side of the conversation. She couldn't help but notice how his voice softened when he spoke to her and the permanent smile on his face. He looked almost giddy.

"Sorry about that", Nathan mumbled, putting the phone back in his pocket.

Haley hurried back to work.

"Oh it's okay. Whatever."

"That was, um, Daytona."

"Really?" Haley pretended to be surprised. "How is she?"

"Good. She might be coming back up soon for a visit."

"That's nice. Um, I bet you can't wait to see her."

"Yeah…but um, what was it you were saying?"

"Huh?"

"Before the call. Something about our coffee and…"

"Oh", she waved her hands. "Never mind."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. It wasn't important. But um, thanks for being so understanding about the schedule."

"No problem. And if Lucas gets in your face again…"

"He won't."

"He better not. But if he does, you call me. I'll take care of it, Hales."

"I know", she said softly.

They stared at each other for a few minutes until the front doors opened.

"Um, it looks like you've got a customer."

"Yeah. Uh, see you around."

"Okay."

"And thanks again, Nathan", she said, grabbing a menu.

"No problem."

She walked over to greet the patron at the table with a pounding heart. What was bringing on her weird and new feelings for Nathan? And why did it bug her just a little, the very mention of Daytona? She was nice enough girl. Haley shook it off. Whatever it was, it was just plain silly. Nathan Lee was her friend and nothing more. Besides, she had enough problems to deal with it, his older brother being the main one.